???I have been stuck on making the monkey fist, which I find very fascinating, for some reason. I visualize it from everything to a dog’s toy, to earrings, keychains…once I learn it, it will be in my house on everything, lol. I’m doing exactly what the instrucatbles.com website shows, or the youtube website. I am tired tongiht, and have not photographed it, to find out what I am doing wrong. But all my loops are tight, except for one. I’m not yet putting a ball or a bead inside it, and I need bigger rope, which I’ll get tomorrow.
–Rhonda
Rhonda,
Welcome. Generally, you need a ball or bead inside a MF so that it maintains its shape. On small ones - like on a zipper pull - tie an overhand knot in the starting point and stuff it into the middle (credit goes to Stormdrane for this trick)
When tightening the knot start at the beginning of the knot and work your way around strand by strand. It frequently takes 2 - 3 complete circuits to get it tight, don’t try to do it in one fell swoop.
There are tutorials at Knot Heads World Wide. www.khww.net. On the home page left hand side click on “knot index” and scroll down for monkey fist.
the one by Bud Brewer is most elementary, Jimmy Williams has a neat red, white and blue one done with paracord.
Happy knoting.
CL
Stormdrane’s blog is my most favorite of all the blogs on the internet. I just found it the other day. I am amazed by his work. I will try exactly what you said.I didn’t think to tie a knot in the middle.
I was travelin for work,and in the hotel room,I made monkey fist after monkey fist, and unable to undo the nylon cord,I threw alot of knots away…lol,I wonder what the cleaning lady though yesterday, when she saw my trash? A McDonald’s sack, and alot of knotted thread!
–Rhonda
Rhonlynn,
Sometimes it helps if someone can show you how to tie something. I find that tying something new is much easier if I have seen it rather than read it out of a book. That being said, if you travel to Seattle, I can try to find some time to talk knots with you. Also, there is a montly meeting in Los Angeles of knot tyers who would be more than happy to give you some tips on working a monkey fist.
If you are having trouble untying knots, it would help if you have a fid, or marlinspike. It is kind of hard to board an airplane with a tool like that, so you would have to check it, or improvise when you travel. There are many different types available on the net.
Pat
I was successful three times today, with the knot. I was so happy. (doesn’t take much to please me,lol). Still working on the 4 mm cord, and then the micro monkey fist.